Roberto Mancini has questioned Mark Clattenburg's decision to report the comments of Gareth Barry that led to the midfielder accepting a Football Association charge of using abusive and or insulting words to an official, which resulted in a one-match ban and a £8,000 fine.

The incident occurred at the end of Manchester City's 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United on Sunday, when Barry shouted at Clattenburg from near the touchline.

But Mancini said: "Gareth is a serious man, a serious player and I don't know why Clattenburg brought or said these things about Gareth. I don't know if it's because he came from this problem after Chelsea but I think every referee or fourth official should understand that after one game you lose in the last second, if a player says inappropriate words they should understand this."

Clattenburg was involved in controversy when he was wrongly accused by Chelsea of racially abusing Mikel John Obi during Manchester United's 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge in late October, though why Mancini referenced this is unclear.

Asked if he was surprised that Clattenburg was willing to get involved in the Barry incident following his experience with Chelsea, the Italian said: "Maybe. I don't know if he said those words against Chelsea players. They decide no but this is another situation. Gareth is a serious guy. He said he didn't say anything about – he doesn't remember [what he said to Clattenburg], it's difficult to remember. Also if he said inappropriate words against Clattenburg he should understand this.

"This has come from Clattenburg – he should understand the situation, this is my opinion, but at the moment he doesn't understand. He said Barry said to him, I don't know what, but I think there are some moments when they should understand the situation."

While the Professional Game and Match Officials Board (PGMOL) declined to comment on Mancini's stance, it was understood that Barry feels that he was provoked by Clattenburg. However, the PGMOL privately points out that any reporting of a matter to the FA is not taken lightly so Clattenburg would have acted in good faith.

Prospect, the union that represents match officials, was unavailable for comment.

While Vincent Kompany's groin injury gives him only a "2% chance" of being available for Saturday's trip to Newcastle United, following the derby loss Mancini admitted that he had strong words with his team though, after reports emerged of this, the manager is more concerned with preventing further leaks. "After the game when you asked me if I was happy for Mario's [Balotelli] performance, I said: 'No.' And I talked with the players and sometimes you can have discussions but I used to keep it in the dressing room not like other people that talk outside the dressing room. For me it's not like this and we know where this [the leak] comes from."

Of Samir Nasri, who Mancini described as only "half" a man in the wall that allowed Robin van Persie's late free-kick that proved United's winner, the manager said: "Someone asked how many people were in the wall? Three? I said: 'No, two and a half' because Samir turned when he shot. It was a mistake. We did a mistake. It is finished. We can't change this. It's important that next time it will be different. I think Samir knows this but there is no problem. Everyone can do a mistake. It's impossible to be perfect."

Mancini also voiced his concern at Yaya Touré's forthcoming absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Ivorian leaving following the FA Cup tie with Watford on 5 January. "I'm worried because Yaya for us is really important. To lose him in January will be a big problem but it's not only him we lose." The manager added that City would also be without Kolo Touré, Abdul Razak and Jack Rodwell, who has a hamstring problem.

Will he, then, try and reinforce in the January transfer window? "I don't know. Now we will see what happens and if we can recover the players because we have a problem with Jack – he is injured again. James [Milner] maybe I don't know if he will be ready for tomorrow but next Saturday he will be ready."